Open House

Tomorrow night is Open House night at school. Both girls have been really excited, Rebecca especially, because they have decorated their room and there are "surprises" and whatnot. In Courtney’s classroom, the teacher will be playing the video of the kids doing their biography report (Courtney did Michael Jordan) so we have to get there on time to watch hers.

Rebecca had a skating party last weekend. I didn’t recognize the name of the boy or mom on the invitation but as soon as we walked in I recognized the mom. (and thought, ugh.) We had met in the park one day right after school started. I just remember that she told me way TMI about her stepsons, current husband, ex-husband (the father of the boy in Rebecca’s class) and blah blah. Also her son was a wild animal and she would just say stuff like "He is a handful. Mrs. H. has her hands full with him." etc. (I hate that "what can you do" attitude some parents have about their misbehaving kids. Sometimes I have it myself when I’m tired or just can’t muster the energy, but I still don’t like it in myself.)

So anyway, the mom spent nearly the whole party talking to another parent (in everyone’s hearing) about the problems she’s had with Mrs. H. and how she finally got her son moved into another teacher’s class. And then the mom she was talking to was agreeing, and saying that her daughter would come home with 7 or 10 checks in her folder a day. (Checks are for misbehaving). I was amused by that, because her daughter is Alexia, who calls Rebecca and will say in this demanding, bossy voice, "This is Alexia. I want to talk to Rebecca." (After the party, I asked Rebecca if Alexia behaves in school and she laughed and said "Noo, oh no. Alexia is bad." LOL)

So Blake’s mom (the boy whose party it was, the one who got moved to another teacher’s class) was talking to Alexia’s mom, and I was eavesdropping because I was sitting RIGHT THERE. And Blake’s mom was going on and on about how Blake’s dad never comes to see him etc but when he does call Blake, then Blake acts up in school. And I was kind of empathizing with her because Taylor used to do that too, when her mom would just call out of the blue after 6 months of no contact. But then Blake’s mom started saying stuff like "I was tired of Mrs. H. calling me at home every night to tell me Blake wasn’t doing his work. So I finally just told her ‘You’re the teacher, you figure something out!’ " And went on to tell how she went to the school and demanded Blake be put in another teacher’s class. And Alexia’s mom was agreeing, saying that Mrs. H. must be the problem because otherwise why does Alexia come home with so many checks each day?

And then, Blake’s mom turned around to see Blake totally hiding under the table opening his presents by himself, and shrugged and said "Well, I guess he wanted to open his presents now." And I wanted to say, "You think the teacher is the problem here?"

I guess this bugged me because I’ve had it happen – back when I was teaching high school we had to call parents of students who were disruptive in class before we could escalate any discipline, and often the parent’s response would be something to the effect of "he’s your problem when he’s at school." And I would be kerflummoxed, because in my house growing up if you got in trouble at school, you got in twice as much trouble at home.

Secondly, Mrs. H. is a wonderful teacher, she is the kindergarten team lead, she was Courtney’s teacher and did a great job and Rebecca is doing super great in her class.

I wanted to interject myself into the conversation and say "No, I don’t think Mrs. H. is the problem. Rebecca has only gotten 4 or 5 checks the entire school year." But I didn’t. But I sort of feel bad for not standing up for Mrs. H.

So, I’ve been thinking that at Open House I need to make sure and tell Mrs. H. I’m really happy with Rebecca’s progress (she is reading so well) and that we think she’s a good teacher.

The only other thing of note that has happened is that I had a coupon for free shipping from gymboree.com, and I spent $44 on 4 things for Benjamin (2 tops, 2 shorts). Then I went to the resale store and spent $28 on 7 things for Courtney & Rebecca (C – 1 jeans, 3 tops; R – 1 jeans, 1 skirt, 1 top). Must…resist…coupons. I could have bought Benjamin at least 10 things for $44 at the resale store.